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A Taylor Made "Idol" Finale
The Soul Patrol found a cure for McPheever.
Taylor Hicks was named the next American Idol Wednesday, capping off a two-hour season finale that featured performances from the top 12 finalists, last year's winner, Carrie Underwood, and stars including Meat Loaf, Mary J. Blige and Prince.
The 29-year-old Alabama native edged out 22-year-old Katharine McPhee for the win, racking up a higher number of the more than 63 million votes cast by dedicated American Idol fans, according to Ryan Seacrest.
"Soul Patrol!" Hicks wailed, acknowledging his fan base upon hearing his verdict.
The gray-haired honky tonk singer's victory had been all but foretold by Simon Cowell after Tuesday night's performance episode.
"Assuming that I was right and the show was tied, then you have just won American Idol," Cowell said following Hicks' third song of the night, "Do I Make You Proud?," which will be the new Idol's first single.
Betting types also put their money on Hicks, according to online gambling site PinnacleSports.com, which had listed Hicks' odds as 2/13 to win going into the finale.
But before the 36.3 million viewers who tuned in for the showdown could learn whether it would be Hicks or McPhee joining the exalted ranks of past Idols Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson, there was plenty of space to fill in the fluff-heavy finale.
In addition to a number of high profile pop performances, the show poked fun at its Emmy-less status in a mock awards show sequence deemed the "Golden Idols" that rewarded some of the least talented hopefuls to audition for the season with trophies in recognition of the best of their worst accomplishments.
Another comedy bit featured drawling finalist Kellie Pickler being schooled on the merits of fine dining by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, who tried and failed to tempt her palate with escargot.
Season two runner-up Clay Aiken returned with an edgy new look to appear alongside an imitator, who was mocked by the judges at his audition for his attempt to evoke the once-nerdy Idol alum.
Other pairings included McPhee performing a duet with Meat Loaf, Hicks harmonizing with Toni Braxton, Chris Daughtry singing with Live, Paris Bennett dueting with Al Jarreau and Elliott Yamin crooning alongside Blige.
Toward the end of the show, a purple-clad Prince took the stage to perform two songs without backup from any Idol contestants.
Just before the results were revealed, Hicks and McPhee teamed up for a final duet on "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."
At last it was time to learn which finalist would be awarded the Idol title. Upon hearing the result, Hicks let out one of his trademark whoops of joy, as an undoubtedly disappointed but ever composed McPhee embraced him, a smile on her face.
Not that being a runner up is all bad. Pittsburgh-based dining chain Eat'n Park has offered McPhee the consolation prize of a $100,000 recording contract in the hopes of luring her to record a new jingle for the family restaurant. KFC also has an $10,000 offer on the table for the runner-up to write and star in a commercial for the fast food chain's new KFC Famous Bowls. (The deal even includes a year's supply of the Famous Bowls.)
Hicks, on the other hand, is guaranteed a $1 million recording contract.
"I'm living the American dream," Hicks said, as he closed the evening at Hollywood's Kodak Theater with another performance of "Do I Make You Proud?"
The Soul Patrol would say he did indeed.
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